Taxpayers foot bill for FMPD's relationship-building training

For the third time, the City of Fort Myers is asking for outside help on cutting down violent crime and improving community-police relations.

Thursday, July 6th 2017, 6:59 PM EDT

Updated:

Thursday, July 6th 2017, 7:54 PM EDT

Fort Myers police are scheduled to take part in the "Ceasefire University" program, but it's the third time in 2017 the city has asked for advising help from a college or university.

"Ceasefire University" is an extension of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the National Network for Safe Communities. City leaders approved being involved in the program back in 2015, but the money wasn't there.

Through grant funding in 2017, the city of Fort Myers plans to sign an agreement during an upcoming city council meeting.

In a one-day workshop, "Ceasefire University" invites city leaders and other major stakeholders to New York to learn communication-driven strategies to fighting violent crime.

Angela McClary calls it money well spent.

"The community has a lot of information that they can provide."

McClary is nearing the one year anniversary of the Lee County/ Fort Myers Parents of Murdered Children chapter. A group of 35 members, where all but one is still searching for their loved one's killer.

"After I lost my children to crime, I realized that it has to take two parties to be able to resolve the problem that we have in our city."

Faith is what drives McClary, who has been a mainstay at town hall meetings advocating for the families who truly feel the impact of the gun violence.

Louisa Aviles is the associate director of the Group Violence Intervention and National Network for Safe Communities. She helps oversee the "Ceasefire University" workshop and says the most important thing is creating the dialogue between police and the people they serve.

"Violence rates in the communities where this violence is targeted are astronomically high. Particularly among young men. Particularly among young men involved in gang group dynamics. That's a crisis, and that's first and foremost what this work is about addressing."

It's the third time this year that the city is spending thousands of dollars on universities here or abroad.

This specific request is grant funded, so it's federal dollars instead of just local money.

"When you look at the results and say that could make a big difference here, it's definitely worth it," said city spokesperson Kirsten O'Donnell.

She said it was by coincidence that the city partnered with so many colleges and universities, and believes it's about getting the right answers for city issues. Even if those answers come from beyond city walls.

A total of 24 cities around the country take part in "Ceasefire University." Many of those who plan to make the trip to the conference will be at the Parents of Murdered Children anniversary event on July 29th at Clemente Park in Fort Myers.